After five dry days for most of the Houston region, we will now transition back into a wetter pattern for the next week or so as high pressure moves out of the area. After today, rain chances will likely be 50 percent or higher each day for the next week, although as of now there are no indications of any particularly widespread, heavy rainfall that will lead to significant flooding problems.
Thursday
Some showers will return today, particularly to the west and southwest of the Houston area. However, I expect most of the area to at least see some partly sunny skies, which will allow for high temperatures to get up about 90 degrees. We’ll probably see the most sunshine today that we’re going to see until at least Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Unfortunately, we can probably expect to see fairly widespread showers and thunderstorms this weekend. Again, we don’t anticipate a washout, but rain probably will never be too far away in terms of timing and distance, and some intermittently heavy rainfall is possible. Skies should be mostly cloudy, with high temperatures likely between 85 and 90 degrees.
Everyone will want to know how much rainfall is coming, and that is something that is really hard to predict. For example, during the first two weeks of this month the area received wildly variable rainfall amounts from 2 to 20 inches. With the showers and storms this weekend, we can probably generally expect 1 to 3 inches of rain, with some isolated higher totals in the 4 to 6 inch range. Where will these higher totals be? If I had to guess it would be west or southwest of Houston, but overall confidence is fairly low.
Next week
Rainfall coverage may dial back a bit slightly for next week, beginning Monday or so, but even then we’re talking about something in the neighborhood of 50 percent rain chances. High temperatures will depend upon the extent of rain coverage, but we can probably expect temperatures in the upper 80s.
The latter half of the week, and next weekend, is dependent upon the strength of a cold front that will be approaching the region. Best case scenario is that it barrels through the region by Friday or so, setting up a clear, cooler, and sunny weekend—with the potential for ideal fall weather. However, another scenario is that it stalls near, or over the Houston area, allowing a wetter pattern to continue into next weekend. Right now we just can’t predict what’s going to happen.
Tropics
The Atlantic tropics are quiet for now, but we probably will see another burst of activity around the beginning of October. The forecast models are hinting at some development in the northwestern Caribbean Sea around that time frame, with a possible movement into the Gulf of Mexico. Best bet is that it moves toward Florida, because we’re nearing the time of year when threats to Texas diminish. But the season for us is not quite over yet.
A rainy day keeps the heat away
Any more info for the UH tailgating and game late Saturday afternoon? Is it a wash out?
You guys always talk about the highs, but can you include the lows too, please? Not just in winter. Is runners like to know if it might get anywhere near reasonable running temps. We almost had some last week. Almost.
The Tour de Cure bike ride is scheduled for Saturday morning out in Prairie View – about 7:00 AM through early afternoon. It goes on rain or shine. Will it be a little rain or a lot of rain?
Yes.
You are who I turn to when I need rational information about the weather. And thank you for saying when you just don’t know about a particular weather event.